eyes of the Masons' friends, were both smothered under
the general jollity and good feeling. Afterward Bess Harley declared
that Linda must have fairly "stewed in her own venom." Nobody paid any
attention to Linda, her own cousin scarcely speaking to her. Only once
did the railroad magnate's daughter have an opportunity of showing her
ill-nature verbally.

This was when the beautiful gold medal was being passed around the
table for the inspection of the company individually. It came in the
course of events, to Linda. She took the medal carelessly and turned it
over on her palm.

"Oh, indeed--very pretty, I am sure. And, of course, useful," she
murmured. "I have been told that most of these medals finally find their
way to the pawnshops."

This speech made Mrs. Mason, who heard it, look curiously at Linda; the
girls about her were silent--indeed, nobody made any rejoinder. It caused
Mrs. Mason, however, to make some inquiries of Miss Hagford, and later of
Grace and Bess.

The young folk danced for an hour to the music of a big disc machine. The
committee of presentation had bidden Nan good-bye, and thanked Mrs. Mason
for her hospitality. The party was breaking up.

Mrs. Mason called the young people together when the wraps of those who
were leaving were already on.

"One last word, boys and girls, before we separate," the lady said
softly, her arm around Nan, by whom she seemed to stand quite by chance.
"I hope you have all had a pleasant time. If we cultivate a happy spirit
we will always find pleasure wherever we go. Remember that.

"Criticism and back-biting in any social gathering breed unhappiness and
discontent. And we should all be particularly careful how we speak of or
to one another. I understand that there was one incident to mar this
otherwise perfect evening. One girl was unkind enough to try to hurt the
feelings of another by a statement of unmistakable falsehood."

Mrs. Mason's voice suddenly became stern. She was careful to avert her
gaze from Linda Riggs' direction; but they all knew to whom she referred.

"I speak of this, boys and girls, for a single reason," the lady pursued.
"For fear some of you may go home with any idea in your minds that the
accusation against the girl vilified or against her father is in any
particular true, I want you to tell your parents that _I_ stand sponsor
for both our dear Nan and her father. Neither could be guilty of taking
that which was not his.

"Now, goo